Notes: A Special Edition was issued and made available exclusively to subscribers of Fynsworth Alley in advance of the commercial release. This Special Edition includes the Bonus Track "I Must Be Dreaming" from All That Glitters and is sung by Emily Skinner. The CD label and number are identical to that of the commercial release.
Posted 2007-08-05 20:52:47: Amazon.com Editoral Review: Another Stephen Sondheim tribute album? Yes, but this one has a few distinguishing points. Most notably, it's the first release from Fynsworth Alley, the label that producer Bruce Kimmel formed after he left Varèse Sarabande. Fortunately, he brought along his usual stable of Broadway veterans, including Liz Callaway, Alice Ripley, and Ally McBeal's Jane Krakowski, singing both familiar and unfamiliar Sondheim tunes--among the latter is Brent Barrett's "Make the Most of Your Music" from the London version of Follies--and MTC Wild Party composer Andrew Lippa even makes a vocal appearance on Saturday Night's delightful "A Moment with You." The lightning rod of controversy is Dame Edna's half-sung, half-howled rendition of one of Sondheim's most tender ballads, "Losing My Mind." Kimmel has said that there was no point in a conventional take on the song because Dorothy Collins recorded the definitive version in the original cast of Follies. That's probably true; however, one could say the same thing about Yvonne De Carlo's "I'm Still Here," but that doesn't prevent Dorothy Loudon from posting an excellent (and fitting) take here. Regardless, even if Dame Edna's attempt at humor is an acquired taste, rest assured that it's only one skippable track on an hour-long disc of enjoyable Sondheim. --David Horiuchi
